Medical measuring device

ABSTRACT

A medical measuring device or system ( 10 ) includes at least one measuring apparatus ( 12, 14 ). Each measuring apparatus, in turn, has at least one sensor ( 16, 18 ) for generating a measuring signal representing a sensed physiological parameter, e.g. ECG signals, of a patient ( 20, 22 ). The measuring apparatuses ( 12, 14 ) incorporate the measuring signal into a carrier signal which is transmitted a wireless communication route ( 24, 26 ) to a centrally located data detection device ( 24 ) which displays graphs ( 42 ) or numerical values ( 40 ) representing the sensed physiological parameters. The at least one measuring apparatus ( 12, 14 ) signals the quality of the measuring signals to a wearing patient ( 20 ) via an LED ( 32, 34 ) or loudspeaker ( 28, 30 ).

The invention relates to a medical measuring device according to claim1.

Instead of stationary and large measuring apparatuses, small and mobileapparatuses are used more and more frequently in the medical sector,which can be carried by patients and therefore allow greater freedom ofmovement. An autonomous ECG recorder is known, for example, from U.S.Pat. No. 5,433,209 and is designed as a portable apparatus allowingleads-off detection and alarm actuation on the portable apparatus whichis implemented automatically according to a fixed sequence once theapparatus has been switched on.

Mobile devices of this type are generally optimized with respect to asmall size and low power consumption. They therefore do not generallyhave detailed displays, but only small displays designed for the basicfunctions such as on/off or the battery status.

Devices of this type are increasingly no longer used as autonomousunits, but as remote units for measuring data detection in a distributedmeasuring and measuring data detection system. These units thencommunicate with a stationary apparatus via a generally wirelesscommunication connection, via which measuring signals are transmittedfrom a remote unit or a measuring apparatus to the stationary apparatusor the measuring data detection device.

However, when sensors of the remote units are placed on the body of apatient, medical staff cannot generally see a stationary apparatus withits detailed displays located in another room. Therefore they have noinformation about the correct placing on the body of the patient withrespect to good quality of the measuring signals. For this purpose, thestaff have to go to the stationary apparatus once the sensors have beenplaced and check the measuring signal quality. However, this is verytime-consuming.

A further problem is that directly after the placing of sensors of aremote unit, the measuring signal quality is frequently very good butsome time later deteriorates. It is therefore generally necessary formedical staff to check the measuring signal quality from time to time atthe stationary apparatus. However, this is also very time-consuming.

An object of the present invention is therefore to propose a medicalmeasuring device which is easier for medical staff to handle than thedevices described at the outset, in particular requiring less time formonitoring.

A patient-worn measuring apparatus is described in which signal qualityfrom a sensor, e.g., electrode, is measured directly at the measuringapparatus. Medical staff are therefore spared the time-consumingchecking of the quality of the measuring signals at a central unit likethe measuring data detection device.

A medical measuring device has at least one measuring apparatus whichhas at least one sensor for generating a measuring signal of a patient,and a measuring data detection device, which is designed to exchange themeasuring signal with the at least one measuring apparatus via an, inparticular, wireless communication route. The at least one measuringapparatus is designed to signal the quality of the measuring signal.

The at least one measuring apparatus is designed, in particular, tosignal the quality of the measuring signal acoustically, for example bya short audio signal, when the signal quality is poor. The audio signalcan thus be changed depending on the signal quality, for example it maybe repeated very often in the case of very poor signal quality.Typically no audio signal is sounded when the signal quality is adequateor good.

Alternatively or in addition, the at least one measuring apparatus canbe designed to signal the quality of the measuring signal optically, forexample by a display with LEDs or on an LCD.

The at least one measuring device is preferably a light means withdifferent colors, each color being associated with a predetermined rangeof a signal quality and activated when the quality of the measuringsignal is in the corresponding, predetermined range.

The light means may also be, for example, a three-colored LED, threedifferent colors being provided for a range of poor quality, a range ofmedium and a range of high quality. Red may be, for example, poor,yellow medium and green good signal quality.

The at least one measuring apparatus is preferably designed to signalthe quality of the measuring signal automatically. In this case noactivation of a signalization of the measuring signal quality isnecessary by medical staff.

The at least one measuring apparatus may be designed, for example, tosignal the quality of the measuring signal when it is placed on apatient at another measuring site. In other words, it is triggeredautomatically when the measuring site is changed and signals the signalquality.

In addition or also alternatively, the at least one measuring apparatuscan be designed to signal the quality of the measuring signal, if asubstantial change in the quality of the measuring signal is detected,for example when a patient has removed one or more sensors.

The at least one measuring apparatus can also be designed to signal thequality of the measuring signal on demand, for example by pressing abutton on the measuring apparatus or by a corresponding demand from themeasuring data detection device.

In a simple embodiment, the at least one measuring apparatus is designedto signal the quality of the measuring signal in such a way that fallingbelow a predetermined signal quality is signaled. In other words thereis a threshold value in the form of the predetermined signal quality.The falling below of the threshold value can be detected by a comparatorin the measuring apparatus and trigger or activate signaling.

For preferred application areas in the medical sector, the at least onemeasuring apparatus is designed to signal the quality of the measuringsignal on the basis of an evaluation of one or more parameters such asthe perfusion index, transmission level, interference level, the signalform or the like.

The at least one measuring apparatus is preferably a pulsoximeter, anECG recorder and/or ultrasound measuring head.

Further advantages of the application possibilities of the presentinvention emerge from the following description of an embodiment of theinvention with the single drawing.

The single FIGURE of the drawing shows a medical measuring device 10 inthe form of a distributed medical measuring system with measuringapparatuses 12 and 14 and a central measuring data detection device 24which is used for storing and displaying medical measuring data and forcentral control of the measuring apparatus 12 and 14.

The measuring data detection device 24 comprises an LCD display screen38 for displaying medical measuring data. The medical measuring datacomprise, for example, a curve pattern 42, numerical values 40 formeasuring values, or other display information 44. The measuring datadetection device 24 has various operating elements 46 for adjustingmeasuring parameters, the display on the screen 38 and functions of thistype of the measuring data detection device 24.

The measuring device 12 is a portable ECG measuring apparatus which hasa plurality of ECG electrodes 16 as sensors. As shown in the FIGURE, apatient 20 carries the ECG measuring apparatus 12 on his upper body, onwhich the ECG electrodes 16 are fastened. The ECG measuring device 12has an ECG recorder for recording the ECG signals picked up via the ECGsensor 16. It also comprises a radio unit, with which it can build up aradio communication connection 26 with the measuring data detectiondevice 24 for transmitting measuring signals.

To facilitate the correct placing of the ECG electrodes 16 on the upperbody of the patient 20 for medical staff, the ECG measuring apparatus 12has a three-colored LED 34 and a loudspeaker 30. The LED 34 and theloudspeaker 30 are used for optical or acoustic signaling of the qualityof measuring signals which are captured via the ECG electrodes 16.

When the ECG measuring apparatus 12 detects that no measuring signalwith adequate quality can be received via the ECG electrodes 16, itswitches the color of the LED 34 to red to display a poor or lessersignal quality. Furthermore, an acoustic signal in the form of a shortperiodic audio signal sounds over the loudspeaker 30 for as long as thesignal quality is not adequate.

The signal quality is checked fully automatically in the ECG measuringapparatus 12, as soon as it is switched on. It is also possible to starta test of the signal quality by actuating a signal quality test button36 on the ECG measuring apparatus 12. This may be carried out, forexample, by the patient 20 himself. When the signal quality is adequate,the ECG measuring device 12 transmits measuring signals of the ECGelectrodes 16 via the radio communication connection 26 to the measuringdata detection device 24 which shows the signals received, for examplein the form of the curve pattern 42 on the large LCD display screen 38and records the course of the measuring signals.

The measuring apparatus 14 is a pulsoximeter and connected to apulsoximeter sensor 18, in which one finger 22 of the patient islocated. The measuring signals of the sensor 18 are transmitted to thepulsoximeter measuring apparatus 14. The measuring apparatus comprises acomparator for comparing the signal quality of the measuring signalsreceived with the predetermined threshold value for a predeterminedsignal quality. When the signal quality received is less than thepredetermined threshold value, the comparator output signal activates anLED 32 and an audio signal generator which controls the loudspeaker 28with an audio signal. In this case, there is therefore optical andacoustic signaling that the quality of the signal of the pulsoximetersensor 18 is not adequate to ensure reliable recording in the measuringdata detection device 24.

The signal quality can then be changed by the patient or medical staffby changing the position of the pulsoximeter sensor 18 in order toreceive an adequate signal quality. When the signal quality is adequate,the measuring signals are transmitted from the pulsoximeter measuringapparatus 14 via a radio communication connection 26 to the measuringdata detection device 24 which displays the measuring signals receivedin the form of numerical values on the screen 38 and records them.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments. Modifications and alterations may occur to others uponreading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It isintended that the invention be construed as including all suchmodifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope ofthe appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 medical measuring device-   12 ECG measuring apparatus-   14 pulsoximeter-   16 ECG electrodes-   18 pulsoximeter sensor-   20 patient-   22 finger of a patient-   24 measuring data detection device-   26 radio communication connection-   28, 30 loudspeaker-   32, 34 LED-   36 signal quality test button-   38 LCD display screen-   40 numerical values-   42 curve pattern-   46 operating elements

The invention claimed is:
 1. A medical measuring system comprising: oneor more patient body mounted sensors which contact a portion of apatient to measure physiological patient data and generate physiologicalpatient data signals indicative of the measured physiological patientdata; a patient body mounted measuring apparatus worn by the patient,the patient body mounted measuring apparatus receives the physiologicalpatient data signals from the one or more sensors, evaluates themeasured physiological patient data signals from the one or more sensorsfor a change in a quality of the physiological patient data signal, andindicates the quality of the physiological patient data signals to thepatient wherein the measuring apparatus evaluates the measured medicaldata signals for one or more of an interference level and a signal formto determine the quality of the physiological patient data signalsgenerated by the sensors as received at the measuring apparatus; and ameasurement display apparatus detached from the patient that displaysphysiological patient data generated by the one or more sensors, thephysiological patent data being wirelessly transferred from the patientbody mounted measuring apparatus to the measurement display apparatus;and wherein the measuring apparatus compares the determined quality witha preselected quality level and transmits the patient data wirelessly tothe measurement apparatus in response to the determined quality meetingor exceeding the preselected level and signals the wearer in response tothe determined quality falling below the preselected level.
 2. Themedical measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuringapparatus includes an optical indicator which includes: a light with aplurality of colors, each color being associated with one of a pluralityof predetermined ranges of the at least one physiological data signalquality to indicate when the quality of the at least one physiologicaldata measurement signal is in the corresponding one of the plurality ofpredetermined ranges.
 3. The medical measuring system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the measuring apparatus indicates the quality of thephysiological data signal in response to one of the sensors being placedon another measuring site of the patient wearing the measuringapparatus.
 4. The medical measuring system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the measuring apparatus indicates the quality of physiologicaldata signal in response to a preselected change in the quality of thephysiological data signal from the sensor.
 5. The medical measuringsystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes apulsoximeter, an ECG recorder or ultrasound measuring head.
 6. Themedical measuring system of claim 1, wherein the measuring apparatusindicates the quality of the physiological patient data signals to thepatient in response to the determined quality of the physiologicalpatient data signals being below a threshold and generates at least oneof: an acoustic signal to the patient to which the measuring apparatusis mounted, and an optical signal via a light mounted on the measuringapparatus.
 7. The medical measuring system of claim 1, wherein themeasuring apparatus does not display the physiological patient data. 8.The medical measuring system of claim 1, wherein the quality isindicated in a manner which is humanly perceivable to the patientlocally adjacent the measuring apparatus, wherein the quality is notindicated at the measurement display apparatus.
 9. A medical measuringsystem comprising: a data device including a display screen fordisplaying at least one of medical measurement values and graphs; atleast one sensor worn by a patient which generates at least onephysiological data measurement signal indicative of physiological dataof the patient; at least one mobile measuring apparatus worn by thepatient which (1) receives the at least one physiological datameasurement signal from the at least one sensor, (2) evaluates the atleast one physiological data measurement signal from the at least onesensor for a change in a quality of the at least one physiological datameasurement signal and indicates the quality of the at least onephysiological data measurement signal generated by the at least onesensor, and (3) communicates the at least one data measurement signalwirelessly to the data device, wherein the mobile measuring apparatusevaluates a signal form of the at least one physiological datameasurement signal from the at least one sensor to determine the qualityof the at least one physiological data measurement signal; and whereinthe data device is disposed remote from the patient, the wirelesscommunication between the at least one mobile measuring apparatus andthe data device enabling the patient to move freely without beingtethered to the data device.
 10. The medical measuring system as claimedin claim 9, wherein the at least one mobile measuring apparatus includesat least one of an acoustic indicator and an optical indicator whichindicates the quality of the at least one physiological data measurementsignal to a wearer of the mobile measuring apparatus.
 11. The medicalmeasuring system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least onemeasuring apparatus signals the quality of the at least onephysiological data measurement signal on demand.
 12. A medical measuringsystem comprising: a data device including a display screen fordisplaying at least one of medical measurement values and graphs; atleast one sensor worn by the patient which generates at least onephysiological data measurement signal indicative of physiological dataof a patient; and at least one mobile measuring apparatus worn by thepatient which (1) receives the at least one physiological datameasurement signal from the at least one sensor, (2) automaticallyevaluates the at least one physiological data measurement signal todetermine change in a quality of the at least one physiological datameasurement signal and indicates to the patient at least one of thequality and the change in the quality of the at least one physiologicaldata measurement signal generated by the at least one sensor, and (3)communicates the at least one data measurement signal wirelessly to thedata device, wherein the mobile measuring apparatus evaluates thephysiological data measurement signal based on an interference level;wherein the data device is disposed remote from the patient, thewireless communication between the at least one mobile measuringapparatus and the data device enabling the patient to move freelywithout being tethered to the data device.